BOARD OF FINANCE

FEBRUARY 11, 2020

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DRAFT MINUTES

 

The following Board members were present:  John Grabowski-Chairman, John Ford, Sally Huyser and Lars Demander.

 

The following Board members were absent:  Sharon Huxley and Catherine Erickson

 

Also in attendance were:  First Selectman Paula Cofrancesco, Finance Director Sheila Lane and Town Attorney Barbara Schellenberg

 

Visitors:  Dr. Jennifer Byars, Amity Regional School District No. 5 Superintendent

                Janice Howard, Parks and Recreation Director

                Nick Poulmas

 

 

1.      Chairman John Grabowski called the meeting of the Board of Finance to order at 7:06 p.m.  The meeting was held in the Selectman’s Conference Room of the Bethany Town Hall.

 

2.      APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Chairman Grabowski called for a motion of approval for the minutes of the regular meeting of     January 14, 2020.  The motion of approval was moved by Member Huyser and seconded by Member Ford.  There were no changes to the minutes.  Voting for:  Grabowski, Ford, Huyser, Demander.  Unanimous approval.

 

3.      AMITY BUDGET PRESENTATION – DR. JENNIFER BYARS

Present for the Amity Budget Presentation was Dr. Jennifer Byars.  Packets of the Amity Regional School District No. 5 – Superintendent’s Proposed Budget 2020-2021 were distributed.

 

Dr. Byars prepared a slide presentation for the Board.  Some items Dr. Byars reviewed were:

·         State Assessment Performance

·         Exceptional Learning Opportunities

·         Amity Pre-Apprentership Program

·         Discussed the budget process

·         Increase of 3.79% in Budget

·         Budget drivers – contractual increases, technology, textbooks, personnel

 

First Selectman Cofrancesco commented on the following items:

·         Pre-Apprentership Program – Is it limited?  Dr. Byars stated it is not limited but there are some issues such as safety limitation with students there, students are working for free, and the amount of students that want to do the program.

 

 

 

BOARD OF FINANCE

FEBRUARY 11, 2020

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·         School Resource Officer – One at high school for 1,600 students and one at each middle school for 400 students.  Seems out of balance to spend that kind of money for middle school.

Dr. Byars replied that they are reluctant to remove due to added layer of security.  Right now there are two unarmed security guards who manage sally port and monitor school.  The School Resource Officer would be an addition.

 

Chairman Grabowski expressed his concern with the budget increase.

 

4.      CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Chairman Grabowski announced there will be a Budgeting Workshop on Friday, February 28, 2020, starting at 4:00 p.m. and that the Board will have various departments present their budget.  Bethany Community School will begin at 4:00 p.m.

 

Chairman Grabowski discussed the Amity School Budget and his concern with the 3.79% increase.  He also mentioned the Towns will have to vote on the budget and that we need to get residents out to vote on this. 

 

Also, Chairman Grabowski brought up the subject of Officer Dave Merriam working at the Amity Middle School - Bethany.  He feels townspeople could be upset with Officer Merriam working at middle school.  Chairman Grabowski asked Town Attorney if Bethany is forced by Amity to hire a School Resource Officer for the Middle School.  Attorney Schellenberg will discuss with Attorney Marino and report back.

 

Chairman Grabowski mentioned there was a clean audit for Amity by Maloney Sabol, CPA’s and Advisors, Glastonbury, Connecticut.

 

5.      FIRST SELECTMAN’S REPORT

First Selectman Cofrancesco noted the following:

·         All notices were sent out to all Boards and Commissions for their Annual Reports.

·         I will be reviewing all performance evaluations with Sheila Lane, Finance Director, so that any merit raises can be included in the budget.

·         I was given the authority to move forward with Simple Recycling by the Board of Selectmen and this will be no cost to the Town.

·         We are in the process of preparing invitations to bid for the next phase of road work.  BETA may attend the next Board of Selectmen meeting on February 18, 2020, to give us their recommendations for the roads to be completed and review with them their software and how to use it.

 

Janice Howard, Park and Recreation Director, noted the following:

·         Sean Warner from the Bethany Town Crew stated the Park and Recreation van needs mechanical work.

 

 

BOARD OF FINANCE

FEBRUARY 11, 2020

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·         Had Digennaro Service LLC in Bethany look at van for safety issues and was given an estimate of $3,900 for repairs.

·         Is it worth doing work on a 2002 van with over 200,000 miles on it?

·         Do we look for alternative options such as leasing or purchasing a new or used van?

·         Waiting for State price.

 

Chairman Grabowski mentioned this would have to go to Town Meeting for purchase of new or used van and that Mrs. Howard should obtain all the information and numbers to present to Board.

 

 

6.      FINANCE DIRECTOR’S REPORTS

A.    MONTHLY ENDING REPORT FOR FY 2019-20

Finance Director Lane distributed to the Board copies of the two monthly reports listed as follows:

·         2020 Detail Expenditure Year Analysis

·         2020 Expenditure Summary by Month

 

Finance Director Lane briefly discussed Highway and Public Works Department stating that request is higher due to the need for new equipment.

 

7.      ADDRESS CONTROL ISSUES

No discussion.

 

8.      ANY OTHER MATTER PROPER TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING

No discussion.

 

9.      ADJOURNMENT

 

At 9:03 p.m. there being no further business, it was moved by Member Huyser and seconded by Member Ford to adjourn the regular meeting.  Unanimous approval.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Antonia R. Marek

Meeting Clerk